Opening up about how his life has changed since welcoming Eric with his partner Lauren Silverman, Simon explained: “It was my 59th birthday last week and it started with me taking Eric out cycling, with him dressed as an alien.

“Then I bought him yoghurt, watched him play in his hamster wheel on the grass.

“We had a swim and I taught him how to ride a quad bike.”

Simon’s decision to spend more time with his family came following a nasty fall at home.